Tigers Wrap Big West Play With 7-4 Win Over No. 22 Cal Poly

May 25, 2013

Four Tigers posted multi-hit game, and Jason Taasaas drilled his third home run of the season as the Pacific baseball team knocked off No. 22 Cal Poly, 7-4, in their Big West finale Saturday at Klein Family Field.

Taasaas finished the afternoon two-for-five with a pair of RBI and RHP Mike Hager tossed 7.2 innings without giving up an earned run.

The Tigers wrapped up their tenure in the Big West Conference by totaling 12 hits for their third win over a ranked opponent this season.

The Tigers picked up a run in the first when CF Tyler Sullivan walked and Torchio singled to right. LF Gio Brusa delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, Sullivan opened the inning with a lead-off single, and after Pederson walked, Torchio dropped down a bunt hit to load the bases. 1B Erik Lockwood ripped a single to left to score two runs as the Tigers took a 3-0 advantage. Taasaas then singled up the middle to bring home Lockwood and chase Cal Poly starter RHP Casey Bloomquist.

Taasaas turned on a 2-2 pitch, for a solo home run off of RHP Michael Dingilian in the fifth. The shot to left field was his sixth career long ball and gave Pacific a 5-0 lead.

Brusa doubled in the Tigers' seventh and after a groundout moved him to third and SS Brett Sullivan was intentionally walked, J.J. Wagner laid down a squeeze bunt to bring home Brusa, and Sullivan trotted home on a passed ball.

Cal Poly finally broke through in the eighth, as RF Nick Torres reached on error, and after a diving grab in center from Tyler Sullivan for the second out, a hit by pitch preceded a two-run triple from C Elliot Stewart. 1B John Schuknecht singled for a third Mustangs run, all unearned off of Hager, before the inning came to an end with Sullivan robbing SS Peter Van Gansen in the left center field gap.

The Mustangs closed the scoring with an RBI tripe from CF Jordan Ellis before Lumby put down the side.

Hager (2-5) finished with no earned runs allowed on nine hits, no walks and four strikeouts, lasting 7.2 innings for the win. Bloomquist's outing lasted 2.1 innings with four earned runs allowed on six hits as he falls to 6-2.

Cal Poly finishes the regular season at 39-17 overall, 17-10 in the Big West and will await an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Pacific caps their season at 15-39 overall, 7-20 in Big West play. The Tigers will join the West Coast Conference on July 1, for the 2014 baseball season.